The deadly duo

THE potentially exciting Wrexham strikeforce of Lee Trundle and Hector Sam see their first competitive action of the new season when the Red Dragons make their debut in the first division against West Brom tonight.

THE potentially exciting Wrexham strikeforce of Lee Trundle and Hector Sam see their first competitive action of the new season when the Red Dragons make their debut in the first division of the Avon Insurance League against West Bromwich Albion at the Racecourse tonight (7pm).

Manager Brian Flynn has also named senior men, Paul Barrett, Robin Gibson, Martyn Chalk, Steve Roberts and David Walsh in the 15-man squad, saying it is arguably the strongest line-up the club will field at any time in the next nine months.

With only 20 professionals on the Racecourse books, Flynn has limited resources at his disposal and the situation will put added responsibility on the club's younger players to maintain a high level of consistency.

"The lads did really well last season to win promotion to the highest tier of reserve team football available to us," he said. "They played well as a team and there were some excellent individual performances along the way as well.

"But it's going to be tough this year because I don't think Wrexham have ever been involved at such a high standard before and, because we have such a small squad of players, this is probably the strongest side we will be able to put out in terms of the number of professionals involved."

One consolation for Flynn is a recent rule change which allows players suspended from Football League competitions to turn out in the reserve side.

"It's important that players are able to keep up their match fitness and that they are ready to play in the second division as soon as their bans are completed," he added.

The four-match ban handed down to Trundle for his sending-off against Bristol Rovers last season kept the former Rhyl hit-man on the sidelines last weekend, while Chalk was also ruled out by a one-match suspension, ironically for picking up two yellow cards in the final reserve team game of the promotion-winning campaign.